Life can be hectic, and one thing that often falls through the cracks is exercise, not only for ourselves but particularly our dogs. We know we “should” take our dogs out, but why do we really need to get them out for their daily walks?
Health
One of the main advantages of regular dog exercise is maintaining your pet’s health. As with their human counterparts, pets need regular and consistent exercise to live long, healthy, and happy lives. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, an estimated 54% of dogs and cats are obese. Obesity increases the risk for diabetes, bone disease, cancer, depression, dementia, chronic inflammation and more. Regular activity improves metabolism to the point where fat management becomes easier and obesity can be reversed. Exercise truly is the elixir of life.
Exercise also pumps toxins out of the body. Sedentary lifestyles allow toxic sludge to back up and choke the cells. Physically working muscles literally helps pump toxicity out of the body, supporting health and vigor. Similar to humans, dogs feel invigorated and more mentally alert when they exercise regularly.
One of the absolute best ways to keep your pet healthy is to provide 3 or more 20+ minute walks per day.
Minimize Unwanted Dog Behaviour
Dogs like to chew and dig. Most of the times, they do these activities out of boredom, and because they have plenty of energy to spend. Regular walking helps to release excess energy in your pup, resulting in calmer behaviour at home. With frequent, lengthy walks, your dog will be less inclined to bark, chew, bite, use the bathroom indoors, etc.
Socialization and Stimulation
Walking not only gets your dog the exercise she/he needs, but it also stimulates his/her senses. Your dog gets to see, smell, feel, and hear all types of new and interesting things when out for a walk. This stimulation often includes meeting other people or animals, which can be an excellent way to encourage proper socialization for your pup. As humans, we often take for granted these brief encounters and stimuli, and we can easily forget that these are frequently the highlights of our pet’s day.
If you find yourself in the “I ‘should’ take my dog out” category, instead of the “I ‘do’ take my dog out” category, we’d love to help you reap the benefits of regular exercise for your dog.
Sources: https://www.vetinfo.com/benefits-dog-exercise.html and https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/importance-of-exercise-dog